Check out the book here and support a local book store! bookshop.org/a/89948/9781250886088 Also anyone who runs a business will probably feel way more for the protag because a lot of the anxiety is captured SO WELL!
A few weeks ago I askred r/fantasy about fantasy books that felt like Ted Lasso, Legends and Lattes was the highest reccomendation! I ordered the book and it'll be here in a few days, can't wait now
well, there’s vedio called why star wars should be an anime, and i think it would explains what stakes is vs what scope is, and this is a low scope high stakes, except i’d probably go the opposite direction with how he said it and say high scope and small scale
This book seems so nice and makes me wish authors experiemented with crossing genres more often -- I want to see a grimdark romcom hangout spaghetti western space opera!
Totally thought this was going to be a Japanese light novel when I first saw the thumbnail. Except the name is way too concise, it would be "I was the greatest orc warrior but now I enjoy the slow life at my coffee shop in a fantasy world" if that were the case.
and a few recs: ravenwood by Nathan Lowell (an itinerant herbalist stops at a new-ish village for the winter) I've recently binged a lot of tamora pierce. It's aimed at teens and young adults, and even when there are high stakes, the focus in on a chill group of characters steadily improving at whatever their craft is. Circle of magic is the most slice of life, it's about mage apprentices. Protector of the small is about a future lady knight - so is te song of the lioness but I prefer protector of the small. trickster's choice is about a young spy. For more Japanese sensibilities, ascension of a bookworm is about a librarian reincarnated as a poor girl in a medieval town. she wants to read and make books and gradually shakes things up in her pursuit.
This is immediately made me think of Coffee Talk, a really chill game set in an alternate reality where fantasy races are now an open part of regular society. You run a coffee shop, make drinks and learn about your patrons stories. It's very warm and relaxing.
I would have been so disappointed if I didn't see Coffee Talk in the comment section. I recently picked it up and that's exactly the vibe I got from the story.
When I read L&L I was reminded of the fanfiction trope called "Coffee Shop AU", which is basically imagining the fictional characters as if they all worked/patronized a coffee shop instead of doing their normal fictional adventures and relationships. That has been popular for over a decade in fanfiction circles and is one of the most well-known AU premises, and remains popular because it has a cozy feeling that lets the characters live in a different and less stressful way. This book felt like the D&D equivalent of a Coffee Shop AU. I hope we get more stories that follow these variations in the future. But I'll be on the lookout for High School AU, Soulmarks AU, Hollywood Actors AU, and Single Parent AU all done in a fantasy setting.
Highlg second the Wandering Inn suggestion. Daniel Green is very adverse to LitRPG but I think those elements are so minimal he could forgive it easy... Though I would definitely say he should do the Audible.
Travis Baldry also narrates the "Cradle" series by Will Wight. Travis elevates the characters with their own voice and tone. you don't really meet Eithan or Yerin until you hear Travis giving then life.
This book hit me in the feels. I wasn't expecting at all to fall so hard for the hopes and dreams of the main character. Her struggles felt like the summation of trying to make it as an adult and carve out my own happiness in this rat race. I never had a book hug me and make me feel like everything would be ok.
This reminds me of Isekai D&D when you guys spent an entire episode opening a brewery 😂 I loved that episode so much, tons of fun. Looking forward to picking this up! There is definitely a need for more "slice of life fantasy"
I highly recommend Wandering Inn which is in a similar vein, where a woman is teleported to another world and instead of going on big adventures she opens an inn. The series is super long, almost 10 million words at this point and ranges from slice of life to epic fantasy with a MASSIVE cast of characters from varying species each fleshed out and appealing in their own way. The first book is considered at the weakest and even then I still enjoyed it. Only critique I have is that sometimes there are way too many POVs shift, but once you are familiar with the cast you'll love almost every POV.
You realize I run an LLC and also say the opposite in this review saying the stakes are higher than marketed? Did someone comment without listening 👂 CAUGHT IN 4k!!!!!!!!! Burn his house down!
@@DanielGreeneReviews The comment that got the Goblin traveling to the Netherlands to burn a manse down. Not sure whether I should be flattered or scared. 😅
This lowkey reminded me of a book I want to read, except being an orc run coffee shop, it is a teashop for vampires. It isn't out yet but it is called a Tempest of Tea. I do think the stakes will be higher because it is a heist book as well, but I am intrigued by the vampire blood tea.
I loved this book so damn much. As a cook and as an avid fantasy reader it really hit a spot that I have been looking for. To a second note as an immense Malazan Fan, I still loved this.
So glad you found this book. I thought it was delightful! Just FYI Travis Baldree is the voice performer for Cradle and I believe those are also an improved experience from his talented character skill.
There's an old book called The Drawing of the Dark by Tim Powers that's about beer brewing in a fantasy setting, based on actual historic medieval craft brewery.
This is a rather common category in anime. The Devil Is A Part-Timer!, Aria the Animation, Yokohama shopping log, and Spice and Wolf. To list a few of the best.
It seems in the video that you are not aware that Travis Baldree was a narrator before publishing this book. In particular, I feel that if you have not experienced Will Wight's Cradle series with Travis Baldrie's narration. Then it would explain why you continue to under rate the books. I think it might raise your rating for each book in the series by at least one full level similar to how The Dresden Files is best experienced in its narrated form.
I haven’t read this, but this reminds me a bit of The Wandering Inn - a webseries that’s slice-of-life, but also very high stakes that’s about a innkeeper. Probs one of my favourite books/series of all time
If you want more fantasy kind of in this vein I wholeheartedly recommend checking out The Wandering Inn. The main character who got isekaied in a fantasy world opens an inn basically. The community that forms around Erin and her inn is great and she is a delightful character. But more than that TWI it's an epic in it's length (i think it's over 9 million words as of volume 8) and world building and characters because soon we get other characters PoV on other continents. probably should mention it's a lit-rpg but doesn't go too hardcore on the system and stats and it's quite minimalist while at the same time adding depth to the story, so don't let it deter you if you are not a fan of the genre. All my respects to the author Pirateaba.
@@chiroptophilia lit-rpg is a subgenre of fantasy characterized by having things like levels, classes and skills, experience etc like an rpg or tabletop games. There is hard lit-rpg which is very number based with a lot of blue boxes(system messages) and very precise details, and there is more soft lit-rpg like the Wandering Inn that doesn't focus much on numbers but still have things like classes, levels and skills.
I'm sure that I'm not the first to say this but, I would recommend The Wandering Inn. I's a really good story about a girl named Erin and well the Inn that she owns after finding her self in a Fantasy world. It has really great charecters and a amazing world. (Sorry if my english is bad, it's not my first language)
I thought this was interesting as the type of story is actually very common in Eastern Fantasy novels especially web/light novels. MC’s with restaurants, stores, shops, malls, schools, etc are fairly common in eastern fantasy.
Wonderful recommendation, thanks! I would love to hear more about wholesome or light-hearted books. I'm definitely tired of grimdark and could use some happiness in my reading
Really wish I could watch your review/opinion on the Light Novel: Ascendance of a Bookworm, by Miya Kazuki. I honestly think you would be surprised by the worldbuilding and… the “ascendence” therein. Honestly, I’ve been totally charmed by this LN and after watching your videos on One Piece and Berserk, I’m very curious if you’d react similarly to Ascendence or not. If you ever give it a try, I suggest reading at least the first 3 books that together make Part 1 of the series (the introduction).
Another good example of “chill fantasy” is the Atelier game series, which tends to focus more on slice of life stuff than grand plots. Atelier Ryza and Atelier Sophie are generally considered to be the best entry points for anyone interested.
My favourite fantasy book as far as atmosphere goes, especially regarding food and snacks, is the city of dreaming books by Walter Moers. It's such a fun little book I reread it occasionally, especially my favourite bits though :-D
Travis is a great narrator. His work on Beware of Chicken and Cradle is chef's kiss good. If you like this genre (it's called slice of life), you should checkout The Wandering Inn as well.
Great review! Definitely gonna give this one a try. If you are ever looking for a slight variation of this concept but with similar vibes and in anime form, you might want to check out a couple episodes of "restaurant to another world". Very chill, low stakes fantasy series about a seemingly normal restaurant in Tokyo that secretly has a portal backdoor that leads to different fantasy worlds and so on saturdays when the restaurant closes to its normal Tokyo customers, it instead opens its doors to all the dwarves, feys, dragons and mages from those worlds.
I am conflicted. This sounds really fun and wholesome... I bloody detest coffee tho, I just can't. Tea? Any day! Hot chocolate? Please! Coffee? Send me to hell and let me burn for a millenia, then maybe. I shall see!
The introduction made me want to read the book - Sounds just like my type of ☕ I will be back to watch this video after I've consumed the book to avoid potential significant spooillers
I am so glad you read this one! I had lots of fun with it myself. I agree that atmosphere-building and coffee descriptions could have been more, but the story was awesome.
Hey, some of the most captivating storylines in Malazan (for me) were an ex soldier trying to set up a blacksmith's forge in Darujhistan and having to tackle the guild's bureaucracy. Another plot line was a group of ex soldiers opening up a bar.........
Pretty common premise in manga and light novels. I recommend Tokyo Ghoul, it has a coffee shop that embraces a newly formed ghoul, giving him a job in the cafe. They even teach him about coffee.
Fantasy Authors: Hurr, Gunpowder bad, hurr space travel bad, Logistics and sensible formations with mages mad bad, Detailed, unique features of my setting that isn't a rehash of the Hobbit bad... Also Fantasy Authors: Hehe..... Tavern but with lattes....
I follow Travis Baldree since the time he made videogames (Rebel Galaxy Outlaw is what I wanted out of the spacesim revival but nobody wanted to give me because they had to make stupid MMOs, and the first Rebel Galaxy is also a great game if entirely different). I read the book a few months ago and I'm glad he's getting noticed!
Like others have mentioned, on the weeb side of things this type of stories is very very common. Here's some of my personal favorites: 'Flying Witch', 'Hinamatsuri', 'Interviews with Monster Girls', 'Restaurant to Another World' and 'Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid'. (also 'Interspecies Reviews', but I would only reccomend it if you're confortable with a show that features a lot of ꜱexually explicit content) Others that are similar but are closer to the 'medium stakes' side of things: 'Girls' Last Tour', 'Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End' and 'Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina' Some that I personally haven't tried but see constantly reccomended: 'Natsume's Book of Friends' and 'Aria'
I love these type of stories so much. Weirdly enough I usually only find them in anime/manga rather than western works Though this is the second time I’ve seen an Indy author released a “fantasy slice of life” story with the first being Casualfarmer’s *Beware of Chicken* (Which shout-out just got an audible version today that’s a good chunky 12 and a half hours long) Which instead of being focused on Western Fantasy it uses Chinese Fantasy
Actually, isn't Travis Baldree the same guy narrating Forthright's Amaranthine Saga? Same name??? (Please read the Amaranthine Saga I'm absolutely obsessed kthnks)
I have a few recommendations if you like lower stakes fantasy. Vampire Accountants, Teddy Bear Golems and NPC's becoming adventurers. "The Utterly Uninteresting and Unadventurous Tales of Fred, The Vampire Accountant" is a book series i love. An accountant gets turned into vampire, and just gets on with his life. Turns out even the supernatural need Accountants. NPC's" is about a group of npc's who are forced to become adventurers after the real adventurers accidentally poison themselves. It's a very meta book that pokes fun at Dungeons and Dragon's. "Stuff and Nonsense" is the underdog story of a Teddy Bear Golem, who is given life, who must become a hero. It is equal parts funny, engaging, Adorable and gruesome. The Teddy Bear protagonist, "Threadbare", is my favourite protagonist of any fantasy book i have read. Second place is Kaladin from "The Way of Kings." Please note; this book is NOT for children.
I like both cozy fantasy and sci-fi a lot. I like to shift the tone from all the horror books I enjoy and read things that make me smile instead. Depending on my mood that day. A long time Terry Pratchett was my go to author, so sad to have lost him. If you like funny, cozy reads I would recommend Red Dwarf Omnibus (two books in one Red Dwarf and Better Than Life) by Grant Naylor (which is the surname of the two authors), it is just hilarious. There are two more Red Dwarf books and I love them all. A bit higher stakes but a long cry from his usual style of writing I would like to recommend Tuf Voyaging by George R.R Martin about a space-trader who likes cats. In the book Legends, a book of short fantasy novels edited by Robert Silverberg there are a good few cozy ones, Runner of Pern by Anne McCaffrey and The Sea and Little Fishes by Terry Pratchett. It's also an excellent book for checking out fantasy writers you might have heard of but not have had the chance to read yet. Among them Robert Jordan, Ursula K Le Guin, Stephen King ( from his fantasy series The Dark Tower) and Robert Silverberg himself.
A recommendation based on both this and One Piece! Delicious in Dungeon is a manga by Ryoko Kui about a fantasy adventuring party venturing deep into a dungeon with no supplies on a desperate quest to retrieve the protagonist's sister from a dragon's stomach so they can revive her, learning about how to cook gourmet monster on the way down. The story mixes comedy, drama, horror, and epic fantasy into a balanced meal of a tale that's sure to satisfy (food puns intended). Plus, it has a well-represented autistic protagonist! Unfortunately, while I am recommending it... I'm going to do something strange and tell you not to go pick up a volume and start reading. Why? Because the story is actually a few months away from being over in Japan! Once the story ends and the final volume hits the American market, I 100% recommend grabbing a copy and starting to read.
Meh, pretty common concept in manga/anime/LN (like Spice and Wolf, Devil is Partimer etc) to the point there is literally all kinds of concepts overused with the word Isekai (Isekai + Restaurant/Izakaya/Drugstore/Real Estate/Libarian (Ascendence of Bookworm which is really super good) etc etc (also non Isekai but fantasy genre like Dungeon Meshi (Delicious in Dungeon) etc) to the point it became a cliche meme with things like being reborn as a vending machine in fantasy world etc...
Yeah I must admit I didn't think I would enjoy this Daniel. Been struggleling through Words of Radiance/Storlight 2, so I thought ''Why not try it as a change of pace''. After reading it, must say... its great! Nothing that will revolutionise the world, but this book did make me feel warm and cozy inside. I also found myself craving freshly baked goods and a good cup of Latte almost the whole way through. PS: Bonus points if you read this in a café / bakery ;)
Anime Says: Yes - There's so much chill fantasy isekai in anime. From apothecary shops to little girls who just want to spend all their time reading, to fantasy REAL ESTATE AGENTS.
Do you have any control over the UA-cam ads? You had Conservative Matt Krause promoted before your video (gross)-and I'm looking around for the "DO NOT WANT THIS AD" button.
Yaaaaaas! I finally read this book, and it was such a pleasant read! It was fun, engaging, and just cozy! Not going to lie, I was VERY close to baking some cinnamon rolls while reading it..
Also another indie pub you'd probably love as much as Gunmetal Gods is We Men of Ash and Shadow by HL Tinsley. Grimdark Gaslamp story about a city that's falling apart and under the thumb of a tyrant. It's really, really good. My #1 favorite last year. The audiobook is perfect.
What does COFFEE PORN even mean? Now I am thinking about you sitting in a coffee shop, staring at the counter and yelling: "Mmh, yeah, you naughty barrista, grind those beans! Get them really hot with that boling water at the right temperature! Ooooh, yeah, do the cream! I know you want cream in there!"" with sweaty hands...
since youve been watching anime like the rest of us degenerates, consider watching Restaurant In Another World if you want more Chill Setting In Fantasy Worlds. Yes, WORLDS. But just one restaurant.
Finished the book this week (thanks for the tip, btw). I think Viv and Tandri's adventure was completed. That said, Further books set in Thune, of new business springing up, modernizing the city and stuff like that would be nice to see. It might even be part of a project from a certain lady that likes knitting a little while talking to people, just like the Patrician modernized Akh-Morpork, one business (and book) at a time.
"I would argue this is high fantasy with medium stakes..." I don't know. Ever seen how crazy people get at Starbucks if their coffee isn't made exactly to their specifications? It's like they would end the world if they could because they didn't get oat milk instead of soy milk. Edit: spelling
Manga/Manwha have many story of this type. One that i'm appreciating Is "Ascendance of a Bookworm" and "Atelier of Witch Hat" (even of the recenti chapter out higher stakes on the table),
Is this the time to recommend VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action? I would explain what it's about, but I'm pretty sure the title and the fact that I'm recommending it in the comment section of this video is enough.
Check out the book here and support a local book store! bookshop.org/a/89948/9781250886088
Also anyone who runs a business will probably feel way more for the protag because a lot of the anxiety is captured SO WELL!
Japanese Webnovels and Webmanga are oversaturated with Slice of Life Isekai
A few weeks ago I askred r/fantasy about fantasy books that felt like Ted Lasso, Legends and Lattes was the highest reccomendation! I ordered the book and it'll be here in a few days, can't wait now
well, there’s vedio called why star wars should be an anime, and i think it would explains what stakes is vs what scope is, and this is a low scope high stakes, except i’d probably go the opposite direction with how he said it and say high scope and small scale
Where The Hell did you get that Staff?
Hey I wanted to ask a question my good sir have you read Paternus Trilogy by Dirk Ashton it's very good very chaotic but so fun
This book seems so nice and makes me wish authors experiemented with crossing genres more often -- I want to see a grimdark romcom hangout spaghetti western space opera!
Well... Cowboy Bebop hits pretty close.
Yeah cowboy bebop is quite fitting and clearly worth it
Cowboy Bebop is pretty close.
Water tasting novel
You should read wandering inn
Totally thought this was going to be a Japanese light novel when I first saw the thumbnail. Except the name is way too concise, it would be "I was the greatest orc warrior but now I enjoy the slow life at my coffee shop in a fantasy world" if that were the case.
Japanese people are often terrible at naming things.
I laughing more than i suppose to,lol
Wow thats a short title
@@yuvalgabay1023 it is pretty short for a light novel… ;P
This comment is too accurate lol
For anyone wanting more stories like this, the genre is Slice Of Life Fantasy.
and a few recs:
ravenwood by Nathan Lowell (an itinerant herbalist stops at a new-ish village for the winter)
I've recently binged a lot of tamora pierce. It's aimed at teens and young adults, and even when there are high stakes, the focus in on a chill group of characters steadily improving at whatever their craft is.
Circle of magic is the most slice of life, it's about mage apprentices.
Protector of the small is about a future lady knight - so is te song of the lioness but I prefer protector of the small.
trickster's choice is about a young spy.
For more Japanese sensibilities, ascension of a bookworm is about a librarian reincarnated as a poor girl in a medieval town. she wants to read and make books and gradually shakes things up in her pursuit.
The wandering inn is a good one
that sounds so wholesome
@@maximeteppe7627 I have read Quartershare by Nathan Lowell and enjoyed it but I don't see Ravenwood listed on GoodReads, it sounds great.
Does Interspecies Reviewers count?
This is immediately made me think of Coffee Talk, a really chill game set in an alternate reality where fantasy races are now an open part of regular society. You run a coffee shop, make drinks and learn about your patrons stories. It's very warm and relaxing.
That’s what I was thinking as well, loved that game it was nice and relaxing compared to other games in the market. It’s a nice relaxing story.
I thought the same thing too!
The perfect game after a tough workday. May Mohammad Fahmi rest in peace
I would have been so disappointed if I didn't see Coffee Talk in the comment section. I recently picked it up and that's exactly the vibe I got from the story.
Same, immediately came to mind for me as well! I can't wait for the sequel.
I hear this book is really good but I cant betray my commitment to Tea supremacy over Coffee
HOW DARE YOU! Leaf water is TRASH! Bean water ALL DAY!
@@DanielGreeneReviews You not only lost a fan today, but gained a (not so) mighty enemy!!
/s obviously
Hey! Roasted Fruit Seed Water Is Amazing!
I absolutely relate! Tea supremacy all the way!
I like tea, but I like cocoa more
I've been in a reading slump this year, but I read through this book in two days, which is really rare for me.
When I read L&L I was reminded of the fanfiction trope called "Coffee Shop AU", which is basically imagining the fictional characters as if they all worked/patronized a coffee shop instead of doing their normal fictional adventures and relationships. That has been popular for over a decade in fanfiction circles and is one of the most well-known AU premises, and remains popular because it has a cozy feeling that lets the characters live in a different and less stressful way. This book felt like the D&D equivalent of a Coffee Shop AU. I hope we get more stories that follow these variations in the future. But I'll be on the lookout for High School AU, Soulmarks AU, Hollywood Actors AU, and Single Parent AU all done in a fantasy setting.
If you like this I would definitely recommend “the wandering inn” it’s a huge fantastic fantasy mostly focussing on slice of life
This, and aldo Beware of Chicken.
Highlg second the Wandering Inn suggestion. Daniel Green is very adverse to LitRPG but I think those elements are so minimal he could forgive it easy...
Though I would definitely say he should do the Audible.
Wandering inn is my favorite
Travis Baldry also narrates the "Cradle" series by Will Wight. Travis elevates the characters with their own voice and tone. you don't really meet Eithan or Yerin until you hear Travis giving then life.
Listen to his narration of The Beginning After the End series.
I need to listen to the Cradle books cause I loved reading them!
On the manga/light novel side of things, there's actually a couple of stories like this.
*Indeed💯💯*
Can you recommend any good ones?
A couple is an understatement
@@arnold_h5472 the wandering inn
@@arnold_h5472 Dungeon Meshi, Isekai Shokudou, Isekai Izakaya "Nobu", Tondemo Skill de Isekai Hourou Meshi. Someone recommend more
This book hit me in the feels. I wasn't expecting at all to fall so hard for the hopes and dreams of the main character. Her struggles felt like the summation of trying to make it as an adult and carve out my own happiness in this rat race. I never had a book hug me and make me feel like everything would be ok.
This reminds me of Isekai D&D when you guys spent an entire episode opening a brewery 😂 I loved that episode so much, tons of fun. Looking forward to picking this up! There is definitely a need for more "slice of life fantasy"
I highly recommend Wandering Inn which is in a similar vein, where a woman is teleported to another world and instead of going on big adventures she opens an inn. The series is super long, almost 10 million words at this point and ranges from slice of life to epic fantasy with a MASSIVE cast of characters from varying species each fleshed out and appealing in their own way. The first book is considered at the weakest and even then I still enjoyed it. Only critique I have is that sometimes there are way too many POVs shift, but once you are familiar with the cast you'll love almost every POV.
Sounds fun!!! I'll check it out!
Travis is an amazing narrator. I have listened to many of his other works.
Travis Baldree plus Cradle is a fantastic combination.
Daniel, you think owning a business is a relaxed, low steaks thing? My oh my…
You realize I run an LLC and also say the opposite in this review saying the stakes are higher than marketed? Did someone comment without listening 👂 CAUGHT IN 4k!!!!!!!!! Burn his house down!
@@DanielGreeneReviews The comment that got the Goblin traveling to the Netherlands to burn a manse down. Not sure whether I should be flattered or scared. 😅
@@folkertdejong6974 be afraid! Lol be very afraid.
@@DanielGreeneReviews (point taken though, too late for my dear life, but hey, had a good run)
What knows daniel from being your own boss and marketing, pfft. It would be a breach of peace to assume that.
This lowkey reminded me of a book I want to read, except being an orc run coffee shop, it is a teashop for vampires. It isn't out yet but it is called a Tempest of Tea. I do think the stakes will be higher because it is a heist book as well, but I am intrigued by the vampire blood tea.
I loved this book so damn much. As a cook and as an avid fantasy reader it really hit a spot that I have been looking for.
To a second note as an immense Malazan Fan, I still loved this.
I enjoyed The Wizards Guide to Defensive Baking as well. Read it right after this one.
travis baldree is one of my favorite narrators and im glad to see him getting into writing too
Chill, charming fantasy is my vibe so I know I'll enjoy this. I need to pick it up already. Thank you for reviewing this.
Travis is also the narrator of the cradle series by Will Wight :)
Dream Master And many other series. He’s a very good narrator with some impeccable range.
Also the game designer for the Torchlight series!
btw check out the demo narration he did for Sanderson's secret project. He absolutely _nails it_
I love his narration!
The Beginning After The End is another really good one he narrates.
Ohh, been looking for something similar to Isekai Izakaya, gonna look for a copy. :D
Overall, I agree. Charming and cozy, loved the audio version. Will definitely listen to any more books in this series!
So glad you found this book. I thought it was delightful! Just FYI Travis Baldree is the voice performer for Cradle and I believe those are also an improved experience from his talented character skill.
Ohhhhh I was trying to figure out why I knew his name so well for the whole video
This book has my interest and more than likely my money
There's an old book called The Drawing of the Dark by Tim Powers that's about beer brewing in a fantasy setting, based on actual historic medieval craft brewery.
This is a rather common category in anime. The Devil Is A Part-Timer!, Aria the Animation, Yokohama shopping log, and Spice and Wolf. To list a few of the best.
Spice and wolf is a great light novel!
I literally never considered a comforting fantasy book! Thanks so much!
More of this please
Though not necessarily with low stakes, if you are looking for an indie slice of life fantasy, The Wandering Inn is the best Web novel I know!
This sounds genuinely lovely. Definitely going on my T.B.R. Its an interesting concept and it'll be great to read between heavier series.
My sister loves that book. 😁
She has great taste!
I've never actually heard this premise outside of manga and light novels I'm interested in looking into it
Completely agree with medium stakes! Loved this book tho I need more feel good fantasy-any suggestions are welcome!
It seems in the video that you are not aware that Travis Baldree was a narrator before publishing this book.
In particular, I feel that if you have not experienced Will Wight's Cradle series with Travis Baldrie's narration. Then it would explain why you continue to under rate the books. I think it might raise your rating for each book in the series by at least one full level similar to how The Dresden Files is best experienced in its narrated form.
When Daniel finds out that Travis baldree is the designated narrator for Will WIGHT 😭😂
I smell conspiracy
I haven’t read this, but this reminds me a bit of The Wandering Inn - a webseries that’s slice-of-life, but also very high stakes that’s about a innkeeper. Probs one of my favourite books/series of all time
Lovely book.
Travis is the narrator for cradle. I'm sure you'd love his narration there. Especially his Lindon, Yerrin and Eithan voices
Great review. I just ordered my copy. I wish the publisher will release a hardcopy. By the way, what are those sky blue and red books behind you?
I was enjoying it as a skillfully written bit of fluff until it flipped into being a romance novel two thirds of the way through.
If you want more fantasy kind of in this vein I wholeheartedly recommend checking out The Wandering Inn. The main character who got isekaied in a fantasy world opens an inn basically. The community that forms around Erin and her inn is great and she is a delightful character. But more than that TWI it's an epic in it's length (i think it's over 9 million words as of volume 8) and world building and characters because soon we get other characters PoV on other continents. probably should mention it's a lit-rpg but doesn't go too hardcore on the system and stats and it's quite minimalist while at the same time adding depth to the story, so don't let it deter you if you are not a fan of the genre. All my respects to the author Pirateaba.
What is lit rpg? Is it like a choose-your-own-adventure book / interactive fiction? It sounds like something I'd be into!
@@chiroptophilia lit-rpg is a subgenre of fantasy characterized by having things like levels, classes and skills, experience etc like an rpg or tabletop games. There is hard lit-rpg which is very number based with a lot of blue boxes(system messages) and very precise details, and there is more soft lit-rpg like the Wandering Inn that doesn't focus much on numbers but still have things like classes, levels and skills.
@@maucaw interesting! Thanks. I'll check out The Wandering Inn, I've seen it mentioned multiple times in these comments :)
I'm sure that I'm not the first to say this but, I would recommend The Wandering Inn. I's a really good story about a girl named Erin and well the Inn that she owns after finding her self in a Fantasy world. It has really great charecters and a amazing world. (Sorry if my english is bad, it's not my first
language)
If you love comfy low-medium stakes calm fantasy you should check out Ascendance of a Bookworm.
Now I’m waiting for the beware the chicken review and then maybe the longest slice of life wandering inn series
This book is sounding similar to one of my favorite game series, Atelier. Low stakes, huge focus on characters, and super comfy.
I thought this was interesting as the type of story is actually very common in Eastern Fantasy novels especially web/light novels. MC’s with restaurants, stores, shops, malls, schools, etc are fairly common in eastern fantasy.
6:29 Daniel Lannister.
I adored this book and I'm now reading Bookshops & Bonedust!
I am working on editing a high fantasy book with about the stakes of "The Wizard of Oz" and the tone of "The Hobbit". So this is good news to me.
And if you want to go through both doors at the same time then you read The Wandering Inn 😉
Wonderful recommendation, thanks! I would love to hear more about wholesome or light-hearted books. I'm definitely tired of grimdark and could use some happiness in my reading
Let's be honest, the name _Legends & Lattes_ is enough to read that book. 😂
Never heard of this book but I may already love it from the video. Will definitely check it out.
For some warm, fuzzy and well-written fantasy, you can't go wrong with Katherine Addison's Goblin Emperor (and following books).
Next I want a story centered around an office but all the characters are fantasy creatures and the main character is an half-elf... WAIT!
Really wish I could watch your review/opinion on the Light Novel: Ascendance of a Bookworm, by Miya Kazuki. I honestly think you would be surprised by the worldbuilding and… the “ascendence” therein. Honestly, I’ve been totally charmed by this LN and after watching your videos on One Piece and Berserk, I’m very curious if you’d react similarly to Ascendence or not.
If you ever give it a try, I suggest reading at least the first 3 books that together make Part 1 of the series (the introduction).
Another good example of “chill fantasy” is the Atelier game series, which tends to focus more on slice of life stuff than grand plots. Atelier Ryza and Atelier Sophie are generally considered to be the best entry points for anyone interested.
Fantasy AND Coffee? I was already placing an order for this book 4 minutes into the video.
My favourite fantasy book as far as atmosphere goes, especially regarding food and snacks, is the city of dreaming books by Walter Moers.
It's such a fun little book I reread it occasionally, especially my favourite bits though :-D
Did he already talk about captain bluebeard, i know he has it, he opened it.
"It wasn't predictable... except when it was." Great wording there buddy 😂
I thoroughly enjoyed the book (though I see your criticisms), and I'm looking forward to Travis exploring this world further.
Travis is a great narrator. His work on Beware of Chicken and Cradle is chef's kiss good. If you like this genre (it's called slice of life), you should checkout The Wandering Inn as well.
It was such a good read I need more like this.
Great review! Definitely gonna give this one a try. If you are ever looking for a slight variation of this concept but with similar vibes and in anime form, you might want to check out a couple episodes of "restaurant to another world". Very chill, low stakes fantasy series about a seemingly normal restaurant in Tokyo that secretly has a portal backdoor that leads to different fantasy worlds and so on saturdays when the restaurant closes to its normal Tokyo customers, it instead opens its doors to all the dwarves, feys, dragons and mages from those worlds.
I am conflicted. This sounds really fun and wholesome... I bloody detest coffee tho, I just can't. Tea? Any day! Hot chocolate? Please! Coffee? Send me to hell and let me burn for a millenia, then maybe. I shall see!
Good the leafwater and co side grows.
The introduction made me want to read the book - Sounds just like my type of ☕
I will be back to watch this video after I've consumed the book to avoid potential significant spooillers
I am so glad you read this one! I had lots of fun with it myself. I agree that atmosphere-building and coffee descriptions could have been more, but the story was awesome.
Your thoughts on Legends and Lattes were 100% spot on, and this book was really great!
Big props to Travis. Dude is a bundle of hardwork, talent, and kindness.
Wandering inn -- Isekai girl opens a tavern in a fantasy world with a levelling system. Very good story, and at this point 1.5x the length of WoT.
Thiiiiis. I just commented this too
Hey, some of the most captivating storylines in Malazan (for me) were an ex soldier trying to set up a blacksmith's forge in Darujhistan and having to tackle the guild's bureaucracy. Another plot line was a group of ex soldiers opening up a bar.........
Pretty common premise in manga and light novels. I recommend Tokyo Ghoul, it has a coffee shop that embraces a newly formed ghoul, giving him a job in the cafe. They even teach him about coffee.
lol
Well yes, but actually no (cit.)😂
Fantasy Authors: Hurr, Gunpowder bad, hurr space travel bad, Logistics and sensible formations with mages mad bad, Detailed, unique features of my setting that isn't a rehash of the Hobbit bad...
Also Fantasy Authors: Hehe..... Tavern but with lattes....
Thank you for continuing to do book reviews
I no lie adored this book and would buy many more like it.
This book made me feel so good. I hope we can see more of the romance in future books
It's an awesome book. I pre-ordered the audiobook after seeing Travis post about it.
I follow Travis Baldree since the time he made videogames (Rebel Galaxy Outlaw is what I wanted out of the spacesim revival but nobody wanted to give me because they had to make stupid MMOs, and the first Rebel Galaxy is also a great game if entirely different). I read the book a few months ago and I'm glad he's getting noticed!
Like others have mentioned, on the weeb side of things this type of stories is very very common. Here's some of my personal favorites: 'Flying Witch', 'Hinamatsuri', 'Interviews with Monster Girls', 'Restaurant to Another World' and 'Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid'. (also 'Interspecies Reviews', but I would only reccomend it if you're confortable with a show that features a lot of ꜱexually explicit content)
Others that are similar but are closer to the 'medium stakes' side of things: 'Girls' Last Tour', 'Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End' and 'Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina'
Some that I personally haven't tried but see constantly reccomended: 'Natsume's Book of Friends' and 'Aria'
I love these type of stories so much. Weirdly enough I usually only find them in anime/manga rather than western works
Though this is the second time I’ve seen an Indy author released a “fantasy slice of life” story with the first being Casualfarmer’s *Beware of Chicken*
(Which shout-out just got an audible version today that’s a good chunky 12 and a half hours long)
Which instead of being focused on Western Fantasy it uses Chinese Fantasy
Actually, isn't Travis Baldree the same guy narrating Forthright's Amaranthine Saga? Same name??? (Please read the Amaranthine Saga I'm absolutely obsessed kthnks)
I have a few recommendations if you like lower stakes fantasy. Vampire Accountants, Teddy Bear Golems and NPC's becoming adventurers.
"The Utterly Uninteresting and Unadventurous Tales of Fred, The Vampire Accountant" is a book series i love. An accountant gets turned into vampire, and just gets on with his life. Turns out even the supernatural need Accountants.
NPC's" is about a group of npc's who are forced to become adventurers after the real adventurers accidentally poison themselves. It's a very meta book that pokes fun at Dungeons and Dragon's.
"Stuff and Nonsense" is the underdog story of a Teddy Bear Golem, who is given life, who must become a hero. It is equal parts funny, engaging, Adorable and gruesome. The Teddy Bear protagonist, "Threadbare", is my favourite protagonist of any fantasy book i have read. Second place is Kaladin from "The Way of Kings." Please note; this book is NOT for children.
I like both cozy fantasy and sci-fi a lot. I like to shift the tone from all the horror books I enjoy and read things that make me smile instead. Depending on my mood that day.
A long time Terry Pratchett was my go to author, so sad to have lost him.
If you like funny, cozy reads I would recommend Red Dwarf Omnibus (two books in one Red Dwarf and Better Than Life) by Grant Naylor (which is the surname of the two authors), it is just hilarious. There are two more Red Dwarf books and I love them all.
A bit higher stakes but a long cry from his usual style of writing I would like to recommend Tuf Voyaging by George R.R Martin about a space-trader who likes cats.
In the book Legends, a book of short fantasy novels edited by Robert Silverberg there are a good few cozy ones, Runner of Pern by Anne McCaffrey and The Sea and Little Fishes by Terry Pratchett. It's also an excellent book for checking out fantasy writers you might have heard of but not have had the chance to read yet. Among them Robert Jordan, Ursula K Le Guin, Stephen King ( from his fantasy series The Dark Tower) and Robert Silverberg himself.
Another great recommendation Mr. Goblin. I’m about halfway through and I have to say I am thoroughly enjoying it!!!💯🔥☕️🗡🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈🥰
A recommendation based on both this and One Piece! Delicious in Dungeon is a manga by Ryoko Kui about a fantasy adventuring party venturing deep into a dungeon with no supplies on a desperate quest to retrieve the protagonist's sister from a dragon's stomach so they can revive her, learning about how to cook gourmet monster on the way down. The story mixes comedy, drama, horror, and epic fantasy into a balanced meal of a tale that's sure to satisfy (food puns intended). Plus, it has a well-represented autistic protagonist! Unfortunately, while I am recommending it... I'm going to do something strange and tell you not to go pick up a volume and start reading. Why? Because the story is actually a few months away from being over in Japan! Once the story ends and the final volume hits the American market, I 100% recommend grabbing a copy and starting to read.
Meh, pretty common concept in manga/anime/LN (like Spice and Wolf, Devil is Partimer etc) to the point there is literally all kinds of concepts overused with the word Isekai (Isekai + Restaurant/Izakaya/Drugstore/Real Estate/Libarian (Ascendence of Bookworm which is really super good) etc etc (also non Isekai but fantasy genre like Dungeon Meshi (Delicious in Dungeon) etc) to the point it became a cliche meme with things like being reborn as a vending machine in fantasy world etc...
Yeah I must admit I didn't think I would enjoy this Daniel. Been struggleling through Words of Radiance/Storlight 2, so I thought ''Why not try it as a change of pace''. After reading it, must say... its great! Nothing that will revolutionise the world, but this book did make me feel warm and cozy inside. I also found myself craving freshly baked goods and a good cup of Latte almost the whole way through. PS: Bonus points if you read this in a café / bakery ;)
Anime Says: Yes - There's so much chill fantasy isekai in anime. From apothecary shops to little girls who just want to spend all their time reading, to fantasy REAL ESTATE AGENTS.
Sounds more like a story that is High Fantasy with Raw Stakes!
Raw Emotions! Raw Steaks! Vegan Steaks with Mocha Latte.
Do you have any control over the UA-cam ads? You had Conservative Matt Krause promoted before your video (gross)-and I'm looking around for the "DO NOT WANT THIS AD" button.
Yaaaaaas! I finally read this book, and it was such a pleasant read! It was fun, engaging, and just cozy! Not going to lie, I was VERY close to baking some cinnamon rolls while reading it..
Also another indie pub you'd probably love as much as Gunmetal Gods is We Men of Ash and Shadow by HL Tinsley. Grimdark Gaslamp story about a city that's falling apart and under the thumb of a tyrant. It's really, really good. My #1 favorite last year. The audiobook is perfect.
My entire book club loved this one. I’m glad you enjoyed and as always loved hearing your thoughts. Thimble is the GOAT.
What does COFFEE PORN even mean? Now I am thinking about you sitting in a coffee shop, staring at the counter and yelling: "Mmh, yeah, you naughty barrista, grind those beans! Get them really hot with that boling water at the right temperature! Ooooh, yeah, do the cream! I know you want cream in there!"" with sweaty hands...
since youve been watching anime like the rest of us degenerates, consider watching Restaurant In Another World if you want more Chill Setting In Fantasy Worlds. Yes, WORLDS. But just one restaurant.
Finished the book this week (thanks for the tip, btw). I think Viv and Tandri's adventure was completed. That said, Further books set in Thune, of new business springing up, modernizing the city and stuff like that would be nice to see. It might even be part of a project from a certain lady that likes knitting a little while talking to people, just like the Patrician modernized Akh-Morpork, one business (and book) at a time.
"I would argue this is high fantasy with medium stakes..."
I don't know. Ever seen how crazy people get at Starbucks if their coffee isn't made exactly to their specifications? It's like they would end the world if they could because they didn't get oat milk instead of soy milk.
Edit: spelling
Very much enjoyed Legends & Lattes. The closest comparison I could come up with was "If Becky Chambers wrote fantasy".
Manga/Manwha have many story of this type. One that i'm appreciating Is "Ascendance of a Bookworm" and "Atelier of Witch Hat" (even of the recenti chapter out higher stakes on the table),
Is this the time to recommend VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action? I would explain what it's about, but I'm pretty sure the title and the fact that I'm recommending it in the comment section of this video is enough.
Hey Daniel. I have a feeling you'd probably enjoy Natsume Yuujinchou and Mushishi.